CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Carmen Lodge
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found effective safeguarding arrangements, suitable risk assessments, enough trained staff and safe medicines management. The home was clean and infection control measures were in place.
- Effective?
- Good
- People's needs were assessed before they moved in and staff had suitable training and supervision. People were supported with nutrition, healthcare appointments, hospital plans and decisions made under the Mental Capacity Act.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff treated people with kindness, dignity and respect. People were involved in decisions, and care plans reflected their views, goals and cultural needs.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans were personalised and included people's routines, preferences and communication needs. People were supported with activities, relationships and access to the wider community.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found positive leadership, regular checks and a culture where people and staff could give feedback. Managers understood their regulatory responsibilities and used audits and learning to improve the service.
What inspectors found, September 2023
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and person-centred care, with all five areas rated Good.
The inspection was unannounced and took place on 17 and 21 August 2023. One inspector spoke with three people living at the home, two relatives and six staff. They also reviewed care plans, risk assessments, medicines records, recruitment files and quality checks.
The inspectors found that people were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. There were enough trained staff, medicines were managed safely, and the home was clean and well maintained. Staff supported people with health appointments, food, drink and mental health needs.
People were treated with kindness, dignity and respect. They were involved in decisions about their care, activities and daily routines. Care plans were personalised, and staff supported people to keep relationships and follow their interests.
All five CQC areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. The overall rating remained Good, as it was at the previous inspection published on 10 November 2017.
People felt safe
People and relatives told inspectors they felt safe and supported. Staff knew how to report abuse and how to reduce risks linked to people's needs.
“People and relatives told us they felt safe when staff provided care and support to them.” from the report
Safe medicines
Staff followed systems for ordering, giving, recording and storing medicines. The medicines records inspected were completed correctly.
“People's medicines were managed safely.” from the report
Choice and dignity
People were supported to make choices and take part in decisions about their care. Staff respected privacy, dignity, independence and cultural needs.
“People were empowered to make choices for themselves, and staff ensured they had the right information they needed.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans included people's routines, likes, dislikes, communication preferences, goals and activities. People were involved in reviewing their plans.
“People's care plans were person centred and included information on how they should be supported, which covered areas such as personal care, nutrition and activities.” from the report
Positive leadership
The management team used audits, feedback and staff meetings to monitor the service and learn from incidents. Staff said they felt supported and valued.
“The management team exhibited a strong knowledge of the sector and a clear understanding of the needs of the people living at the service.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How will you keep my relative's risk assessments and care plan up to date?
- 02How will you support my relative to make choices and have their views included in care reviews?
- 03What activities and community opportunities would be available for my relative's interests and goals?
- 04How would you support my relative with medicines, including if they were reluctant to take them?
- 05How would you involve our family if my relative needed hospital care or support from health professionals?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five CQC questions, including the premises and care provided; the previous overall rating and all five question ratings were Good in 2017. This explanation was written from the published report of 1 September 2023 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
What inspectors found, November 2017
Carmen Lodge rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and person-centred care, with some building repairs still needed.
Inspectors visited on 2 October 2017 without giving advance notice. They spoke with people living there, staff, managers and health and social care professionals. They observed care and checked care files, medicines records, staff files, finances, audits and safety records.
The home supported up to 11 adults with mental health conditions. Ten people were living there at the time. People and relatives said they felt safe and received kind care. Inspectors found suitable staffing, safe medicines management, useful risk assessments and appropriate recruitment checks.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. The previous inspection in 2015 had found recruitment checks were not robust. Inspectors said improvements had been made and the home was now meeting that requirement.
People felt safe
People told inspectors they felt safe. Staff understood safeguarding and knew how to report concerns.
“Risk assessment processes were effective at keeping people safe from avoidable harm.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw positive relationships between staff and people. Staff respected privacy, personal choices and individual needs.
“Throughout our visit we saw positive, caring interactions between staff and people using the service.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans included people's histories, preferences, health needs and goals. People and relatives were involved in planning their support.
“The care plans were written in a person centred way that reflected people's individual preferences.” from the report
Good involvement
People could give their views through meetings and surveys. They were also involved in choosing new staff.
“People were involved and gave feedback about the way the service was led.” from the report
Some areas needed repair
minorParts of the building, especially the shared bathroom and shared kitchen, needed redecoration and repair. The manager said arrangements were in place to address this.
“We observed that parts of the building were in need of redecoration and repair, particularly the shared bathroom and shared kitchen.” from the report
- 01Were the shared kitchen replacement and shared bathroom redecoration completed after the inspection?
- 02How many staff are normally on duty at all times, and how are absences covered?
- 03How often will my relative's care plan be reviewed, and how will they be involved?
- 04What activities and community opportunities are currently available to residents?
- 05How are medicines, including medicines used when needed, checked and reviewed?
This was an unannounced inspection of the overall service and all five CQC questions, with checks of care, staffing, medicines, finances, records, audits and safety arrangements. This explanation was written from the published report of 10 November 2017 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
Every inspection of Carmen Lodge
3 rated inspections over 8 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- September 2023Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2016GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2014
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 10 August 2014.
Ratings and report dates from the Care Quality Commission, Open Government Licence v3.0. A home can also be visited without a new rating being published, so the timeline shows published inspections.
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Fees, photos and reviews from families
How to read CQC ratings and reports
What to check when you visit
At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Waltham Forest
These are self-employed carers on PrimeCarers, the introductory agency that runs this directory. Each has a profile with their own rates and reviews from families, and you choose who to talk to.
Most charge £980 to £1,200 a week. 77 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“Sidonia is a first class live-in carer whose dedication and thoughtfulness made her stay a happy experience.”
“Charity would take Nan on holidays day trips and shopping adventures”
Every carer has had an enhanced DBS check in the last 18 months, ID and right-to-work checks and an online interview. Their skills and training are for you to check with them. Carers set their own rates, and who is free changes week to week.